US6299154B1 - Device designed to open at least one page of a publication in order to introduce printed inserts - Google Patents

Device designed to open at least one page of a publication in order to introduce printed inserts Download PDF

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Publication number
US6299154B1
US6299154B1 US09/337,523 US33752399A US6299154B1 US 6299154 B1 US6299154 B1 US 6299154B1 US 33752399 A US33752399 A US 33752399A US 6299154 B1 US6299154 B1 US 6299154B1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
page
deflector
suction
feed
conveyor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US09/337,523
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English (en)
Inventor
Aris Ballestrazzi
Lamberto Tassi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SITMA Societa Italiana Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
SITMA Societa Italiana Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SITMA Societa Italiana Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical SITMA Societa Italiana Macchine Automatiche SpA
Assigned to SITMA S.P.A. reassignment SITMA S.P.A. INVALID ASSIGNMENT SEE RECORDING AT REEL 010325, FRAME 0186. (RE-RECORD TO CORRECT SERIAL NUMBER ERRONEOUSLY ASSIGNED BY PTO) Assignors: BALLESTRAZZI ARIS, TASSI LAMBERTO
Assigned to SITMA S.P.A. reassignment SITMA S.P.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BALLESTRAZZI, ARIS, TASSI, LAMBERTO
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Publication of US6299154B1 publication Critical patent/US6299154B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/30—Opening devices for folded sheets or signatures
    • B65H5/301—Opening devices for folded sheets or signatures comprising blade-like means inserted between the parts to be opened
    • B65H5/302—Opening devices for folded sheets or signatures comprising blade-like means inserted between the parts to be opened the blade-like means being stationary
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42C—BOOKBINDING
    • B42C1/00—Collating or gathering sheets combined with processes for permanently attaching together sheets or signatures or for interposing inserts
    • B42C1/10—Machines for both collating or gathering and interposing inserts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/43—Gathering; Associating; Assembling
    • B65H2301/431—Features with regard to the collection, nature, sequence and/or the making thereof
    • B65H2301/4317—Signatures, i.e. involving folded main product or jacket
    • B65H2301/43171—Inserting subproducts in a signature as main product
    • B65H2301/431711—Inserting subproducts in a signature as main product the subproduct being inserted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fold of the main product
    • B65H2301/431713—Inserting subproducts in a signature as main product the subproduct being inserted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fold of the main product the main product being slightly inclined or horizontal and oriented with opening face laterally to its transport direction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/43—Gathering; Associating; Assembling
    • B65H2301/435—Gathering; Associating; Assembling on collecting conveyor
    • B65H2301/4352—Gathering; Associating; Assembling on collecting conveyor with pushers, e.g. the articles being substantially horizontal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B65H2406/34—Suction grippers
    • B65H2406/341—Suction grippers being oscillated in arcuate paths

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device designed to open at least one page of a publication in order to introduce printed inserts, in particular in an insert feeding and/or packaging machine.
  • Machines designed to package such products are also known, namely machines in which the main products such as magazines, folding two-sided leaflets and the like are packaged in plastic shrink wrapping material and the like, which contain devices designed to add one or more inserts or secondary products such as a sheet of paper, another leaflet, etc.
  • feeders or inserters automatically combine the inserts with the main product being packaged.
  • the devices and/or systems of this kind used at present are particularly bulky, and can cause jamming or stoppage of the packaging machine, which operates at high speed. For example, as they are made in the form of large deflectors which extend above the pusher conveyor, they raise the first page and/or the other pages excessively, causing it to jam in the insert feed elements.
  • the aim of this invention is therefore to offer a device that opens at least one page and is particularly functional and simple to construct, in order to solve the problems set out above.
  • Another aim is to offer an opening device which can easily be at least partly removed from the support structure of the insertion and/or packaging machine so as to minimise stoppages in the event of jamming.
  • a device in an insert feeding and/or packaging machine that opens at least one page of a publication to introduce printed inserts, and includes a feed table for publications associated with a product feeding conveyor, at least one sheet feeder being fitted alongside the feed table to feed secondary products, said device being characterised in that it includes a suction and lifting element which raises a lateral portion of said at least one page of a main product, a deflector designed to deflect the lateral portion of said at least one lifted page being fitted downstream of said suction and lifting element, which has a reduced width and is fitted alongside in correspondence of the deflector, where said at least one sheet feeder is located.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of an insertion and/or packaging machine fitted with a device according to this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view from a different angle of part of the device shown in FIG. 1, and
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the device according to the invention in correspondence with a paper feeder.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 very schematically and partially show a portion of an inserting and/or packaging machine in which inserts merely need to be inserted in the main publications 11 , such as magazines, two-sided leaflets and the like, so as to make a final product ready for subsequent treatment or packaging in plastic such as shrink wrapping or the like at a subsequent station, which is known and not shown here.
  • main publications 11 such as magazines, two-sided leaflets and the like
  • Sheet feeders (or inserters) 14 are fitted on a structure 12 of such a general machine, positioned transversely to a product feeding conveyor, equipped with pushers 13 , which runs lengthways to the machine; said feeders are designed to add an insert or secondary product 15 such as a sheet of paper, an additional brochure, etc.
  • a rotating arm 17 fitted with a suction element 18 is installed transversely to feed table 16 of pushers 13 .
  • a deflector 19 on which at least a first page 20 of main product 11 rests after being released by suction cup 18 , is fitted downstream of said suction element 18 .
  • Deflector 19 is narrow and, as shown in the example, may occupy and engage only a limited portion of the free edge of raised page or pages 20 of main product 11 .
  • Said deflector 19 is constituted by an even narrower tapered first front part 21 which is comparable to a “claw”, with the free end shaped like a slice of salami and facing upwards or downwards.
  • a second wider ramp-shaped part 22 extends upwards from said first front part 21 towards the basically flat central portion 23 of deflector 19 .
  • the rear end of deflector 19 is shaped to form a downward-sloping ramp 24 .
  • the whole deflector 19 is supported by arms 25 integral with structure 12 of the machine so that it is raised above feed table 16 of pushers 13 .
  • a restraint element such as rod 26 shown in the example, can be connected at the top to deflector 19 and distanced from it.
  • Said rod 26 which extends above deflector 19 and longitudinally to the product feed, is also supported by arms 25 .
  • Suction cup 18 can obviously grasp and lift the first page only, or other pages attached to it too. It is also obvious that in accordance with this invention, both suction cup 18 and deflector 19 only keep a lateral portion 20 b of said page 20 or successive pages raised.
  • main publications 11 such as a magazine as shown in the drawings, are first fed along feed table 16 one after another. Magazine 11 is made to advance by pushers 13 of the conveyor, and is separated from the next one by the same length as the pitch of pushers 13 .
  • suction cup 18 comes into contact with front edge 20 a of a limited lateral portion 20 b of the first page 20 , possibly with other pages beneath it.
  • Rotation of the arm is synchronised with the advance of pushers 13 .
  • the suction of suction cup 18 is activated by a valve comprising a fixed part 29 connected to a suction pipe 30 , for example connected to a pump (not shown), and a mobile part 31 integral with a cogwheel or pulley 32 . The latter is connected to arm 17 , to which suction cup 18 is fitted.
  • Another pipe 33 which is connected to mobile part 31 of the valve, extends from suction cup 18 .
  • suction cup 18 is activated, and during part of its rotation, synchronised with the advance of magazine 11 , it lifts edge 20 a of the first page 20 either alone or together with other pages beneath it.
  • the first page slides upwards along wider ramp 22 , and travels towards central portion 23 of deflector 19 .
  • the first page 20 is kept close to the deflector by restraint rod 26 .
  • a sheet feeder 14 feeds insert 15 into magazine 11 which has thus been partly laterally opened.
  • a number of sheet feeders 14 could obviously be fitted alongside feed table 16 , and a number of inserts or secondary products could be inserted in the magazine under first page 20 .
  • lateral portion 20 b of first page 20 is released above the inserts and the remainder of the magazine, descends from the ramp-shaped rear end 22 and thus leaves deflector 19 .
  • deflector 19 is very narrow, as already mentioned, so that the curvature of the page lifted is limited (see FIG. 3 ).
  • page opening is facilitated, especially if the pages are made of flimsy paper.
  • deflector 19 Another advantage deriving from the narrowness of deflector 19 is that it leaves ample room for jamming to be rectified, which is not the case with the devices used to date. Deflector 19 does not extend to the centre line of the conveyor, and therefore does not interfere with pushers 13 .
  • Arms 25 can obviously be constrained to structure 12 of the general machine by hinges 28 , as can deflector 19 and restraining rod 26 . Such a design would allow said parts to be raised, giving immediate access to the feed table below.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
US09/337,523 1998-06-23 1999-06-22 Device designed to open at least one page of a publication in order to introduce printed inserts Expired - Lifetime US6299154B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT1998MI000435U IT244083Y1 (it) 1998-06-23 1998-06-23 Dispositivo di apertura di almeno una pagina di un prodotto editorialeper l'introduzione di inserti editoriali
ITMI98U0435 1998-06-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US6299154B1 true US6299154B1 (en) 2001-10-09

Family

ID=11379173

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/337,523 Expired - Lifetime US6299154B1 (en) 1998-06-23 1999-06-22 Device designed to open at least one page of a publication in order to introduce printed inserts

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6299154B1 (it)
EP (1) EP0980840B1 (it)
DE (1) DE69911527T2 (it)
DK (1) DK0980840T3 (it)
ES (1) ES2207112T3 (it)
HK (1) HK1029321A1 (it)
IT (1) IT244083Y1 (it)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6705608B2 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-03-16 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Sheet material conveying apparatus with adjustable top grippers for pockets
US20050062209A1 (en) * 2003-09-05 2005-03-24 C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. Sheet foldover apparatus
US20060180438A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-08-17 Muller Martini Holding Ag Apparatus for gathering signatures along a conveying section of a circulating conveyor
US20100288602A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2010-11-18 Pfankuch Maschinen Gmbh Device for opening a cover leaf or cover of a bound publication
US10339755B2 (en) 2003-08-07 2019-07-02 Bally Gaming, Inc. Using a table and progressive meter in side events

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101208656B (zh) 2005-06-30 2010-08-25 咨询卡有限公司 翻页机构

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3627302A (en) * 1968-07-19 1971-12-14 Lyle V Dutro Apparatus for processing folded articles
US3661379A (en) * 1969-05-26 1972-05-09 Leonardo Dolfini Method and apparatus for opening signatures
US4401300A (en) * 1981-12-21 1983-08-30 Leger' Equipment Corp. Air bearing shelf
US4403770A (en) 1982-03-22 1983-09-13 Leonard Ferguson Apparatus for collating signatures
US4420146A (en) * 1980-01-05 1983-12-13 Ferag Ag Apparatus for opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet products, especially printed products
US4463941A (en) * 1981-12-07 1984-08-07 Stobb, Inc. Method and apparatus for opening folded sheets
US4478399A (en) 1980-09-08 1984-10-23 Morin George A Inserting system for newspapers
US5253857A (en) 1991-08-05 1993-10-19 Sitma S.P.A. Device for feeding sheets from one or two sources
US5443250A (en) * 1992-07-06 1995-08-22 Ferag Ag Method and apparatus for inserting objects into multi-sheet products, particularly printed products
US5613670A (en) 1995-04-19 1997-03-25 Sitma S.P.A. Device utilizing a rotary disc having a gripping element for rapidly feeding sheet inserts to a pusher conveyor of a packaging machine
US6017027A (en) * 1996-09-06 2000-01-25 Ferag Ag Method and apparatus for opening flexible, sheet products

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3627302A (en) * 1968-07-19 1971-12-14 Lyle V Dutro Apparatus for processing folded articles
US3661379A (en) * 1969-05-26 1972-05-09 Leonardo Dolfini Method and apparatus for opening signatures
US4420146A (en) * 1980-01-05 1983-12-13 Ferag Ag Apparatus for opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet products, especially printed products
US4478399A (en) 1980-09-08 1984-10-23 Morin George A Inserting system for newspapers
US4463941A (en) * 1981-12-07 1984-08-07 Stobb, Inc. Method and apparatus for opening folded sheets
US4401300A (en) * 1981-12-21 1983-08-30 Leger' Equipment Corp. Air bearing shelf
US4403770A (en) 1982-03-22 1983-09-13 Leonard Ferguson Apparatus for collating signatures
US5253857A (en) 1991-08-05 1993-10-19 Sitma S.P.A. Device for feeding sheets from one or two sources
US5443250A (en) * 1992-07-06 1995-08-22 Ferag Ag Method and apparatus for inserting objects into multi-sheet products, particularly printed products
US5613670A (en) 1995-04-19 1997-03-25 Sitma S.P.A. Device utilizing a rotary disc having a gripping element for rapidly feeding sheet inserts to a pusher conveyor of a packaging machine
US6017027A (en) * 1996-09-06 2000-01-25 Ferag Ag Method and apparatus for opening flexible, sheet products

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6705608B2 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-03-16 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Sheet material conveying apparatus with adjustable top grippers for pockets
US10339755B2 (en) 2003-08-07 2019-07-02 Bally Gaming, Inc. Using a table and progressive meter in side events
US20050062209A1 (en) * 2003-09-05 2005-03-24 C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. Sheet foldover apparatus
US7014181B2 (en) * 2003-09-05 2006-03-21 C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc. Sheet foldover apparatus
US20060180438A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-08-17 Muller Martini Holding Ag Apparatus for gathering signatures along a conveying section of a circulating conveyor
US8028821B2 (en) * 2005-01-31 2011-10-04 Mueller Martini Holding Ag Apparatus for gathering signatures along a conveying section of a circulating conveyor
US20100288602A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2010-11-18 Pfankuch Maschinen Gmbh Device for opening a cover leaf or cover of a bound publication

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69911527T2 (de) 2004-06-24
HK1029321A1 (en) 2001-03-30
EP0980840B1 (en) 2003-09-24
EP0980840A3 (en) 2000-03-29
IT244083Y1 (it) 2002-03-07
DK0980840T3 (da) 2004-01-05
EP0980840A2 (en) 2000-02-23
ES2207112T3 (es) 2004-05-16
DE69911527D1 (de) 2003-10-30
ITMI980435U1 (it) 1999-12-23

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AS Assignment

Owner name: SITMA S.P.A., ITALY

Free format text: INVALID ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNORS:BALLESTRAZZI ARIS;TASSI LAMBERTO;REEL/FRAME:010062/0453

Effective date: 19990616

Owner name: SITMA S.P.A., ITALY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BALLESTRAZZI, ARIS;TASSI, LAMBERTO;REEL/FRAME:010325/0186

Effective date: 19990616

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